alieratwns made by providence upon our conditions, try the stfengtli of our graces? and too often discover the weakness and corrup- tion of holy men. Hezekiali was a good man, but yet his weak- ness and corruption was bewrayed by the alterations providence made upon his conditions. When sickness and pains summoned him to the grave, what bitter complaints and despondencies are recorded in Isa. xxxviii. per tot. and when providence hfted him up again into a prosperous condition, what ostentation and vain-glory did he discover ? Isa. xxxix. 2. David had more than a common stock of inherent grace, yet not enough to keep him in an actual temper of spirit under great alterations, Psal. xxx. 6, 7. " In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved ; thou hid- " dest thy face and I was troubled." It is not every man can say with Paul, " I know both how to be abased, and I know how to a- *' bound ; every where, and in all things I am instructed both to be " full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need," Phil, iv. 12. He is truly rich in grace whose riches or poverty neither hinders the acting, nor impoverisheth the stock of his graces.
3. Though the best men be subject to such disorders of heart under the changes of providence; yet these disorders may, in a great measure, be prevented by the due application of such rules and helps as God hath given us in such cases.
Now, these helps are suited to a threefold aspect of providence upon us ; viz.
1. Comfortable. 2. Calamitous. 3. Doubtful.
T o all which I shall speak particularly and briefly.
How may we attain to an evenness and steadiness of heart under the comfortable aspects of providence upon us ?
Under providences of this kind the great danger is, lest the heart be lifted up with pride and vanity, and fall into a drowsy and remiss temper : To prevent this, we had need to urge humbling and awaken* ing considerations upon our hearts ; such are these that follow.
These gifts of providence are common to the worst of men, and are no special distinguishing fruits of God's love. The vilest of men have been filled even to satiety with these things. Psal. Ixxiii. 7. *' Their eyes stand out vith fatness ; they have more than heart " could wish."
Second Cmisideration.
Think how unstable and changeable all these things are. What you glory in to-day may be none of yours to-morrow, Prov. xxiii.
THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE. 48T
5. " Riches make themselves wings, and flee away as an eagle to- *' wards heaven." As the wings of a fowl grow out of the substance of the body, so the cause of the creature's ti-ansitoriness is in itself: it is subjected to vanity ^ and that vanity like mngs, carries it away : they are hyitjixding flowers, James i. 10.
The change of providences are never nearer to the people of God, than when their hearts are hfted up, or gro^vn secure by prosperity. Doth Hezekiah glory in his treasures ? The next news he hears is of an impoverishing providence at hand, Isa. xxxix. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Others may be left to perish in unsanctified prosperity, but you shall not.
Fourth Consideration.
This is a great discovery of the carnality and corruption that is in thy heart : It argues an heart little set upon God, little morti- fied to the world, little acquainted with the vanity and ensnaring nature of these things. O you know not what hearts you have till such providences try them ! And is not such a discovery matter of deep humiliation ?
Fifth Consider atio7i.
Was it not better with you in a low condition than it is now ? Reflect and compare state with state, and time with time. How is the frame of your hearts altered with the alteration of your condi- tion ? So God complains of Israel, Hos. xiii. 5, 6. " I did know " thee in the wilderness, the land of drought ; according to their " pasture, so were they filled, they were filled, and their heart " was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me, saith the Lord :" q. d. You and I were better acquainted formerly, when you were in a low condition ; prosperity hath estranged you, and altered the case. How sad is it, that God's mercies should be the occasion of our estrangement from him ?
Question 2. Upon the other side, it is worth considering how our hearts may be established and kept steady under calamitous and adverse prO' vidences.
Here we are in equal danger of the other extreme, viz. despon- dency, and sinking under the frowns and strokes of cross provi- dences. Now to support and establish the heart in this case, take three helps.
First, Consider that afilictive providences are of great use to the
people of God ; they cannot live without them. The eai'th doth
not more need chastening frosts and mellowing snows, than our
hearts do nipping providences. Let the best Christian be but a
488 DIVINE CONDUCT ; OH,
few years \vithout them, and he will be sensible of the want of them ; he will find a sad remission and declining upon all his graces.
Second Ccmsideration, No stroke or calamity upon the people of God, can separate them from Christ. Rom. viii. 35. " Who shall separate us from the *' love qf Christ ? Shall tribulation ?"" There was a time when Job could call nothing in this world but trouble his own : he coulcj not say, my estate, my honour, my health, my children ; for all these were gone ; yet then he could say, my Redeemer, Job xix. 25. Well then, there is no cause to sink whilst interest in Christ reiuaui^ re to us.
All your calamities will have an end shortly. The longest day of the sainf s troubles has an end ; and then, no more troubles for ever. The troubles of the wicked wiU be to eternity ; but you shall " suffer but a while," 1 Pet. v. 13. If a thousand troubles be appointed for yoM, they will come to one at last, and after that, no more : yea, and though our troubles " be but for a moment, yet *' they work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Let that support your hearts under all your sufferings.
Lastly. Let us consider what may be useful to support and quiet our hearts under doubtful providences, when our dear concernments hang in a doubtful suspense before us, and we know not which way the providence of God will cast and determine them.
Now the best hearts are apt to grow solicitous and pensive, dis- tracted with though tfulness about the event and issue. To relieve and settle us in this case, the following considerations are very useful.
First, Let us consider the vanity and inutility of such a solici- tude, Mat. vi. 27. " Which of you (saith our Lord) by taking " thought can add one cubit .?" We may break our peace, and waste our spirits, but not alter the case. We cannot turn God out of his way. Job xxiii. 13. He is in one mind. We may, by struggling against God, increase, but not avoid or lighten our troubles.
Second Consideration.